Tom Yum Soup (Tom Yum Goong)

chicken stock ((unsalted, homemade or store-bought))

stalks lemongrass ((or three smaller stalks))

inches galangal ((peeled and thinly sliced))

lime leaves ((also known as kaffir leaves; rinsed))

shallot ((peeled))

straw mushrooms ((or white button, or oyster mushrooms, cut into bite-size pieces))

chile jam ((homemade or store-bought, plus more to taste))

fish sauce ((plus more to taste))

dried red chiles ((broken in half and seeds reserved))

shrimp ((peeled and deveined, with heads and tails intact if desired))

lime juice ((plus more to taste))

bunch fresh cilantro leaves ((finely chopped))

fresh bird’s eye chiles ((stemmed and bruised; seeded and de-veined for less heat; whole or sliced on the diagonal))

lime leaves ((optional, but they look good in a bowl; not to be eaten))

cilantro twigs ((optional; one twig per bowl))